Lookback: Chronicle readers helped name Muskegon's public schools

As the Lumber Era neared its peak, enrollment in Muskegon’s public schools jumped 60 percent between 1883 and 1887, from 2,656 to 4,056. Likewise, the number of teachers nearly doubled from 47 in 1883 to 80 in 1887.

The eight-room, brick Ransom Street School was built in 1883. Later renamed McLaughlin School, the original building was replaced by the current structure in 1955.MLive.com file photo

In 1883, only the city’s five brick school buildings had names and two of those were less than inspired: the 13-room Central School, six-room Pillsbury, eight-room Nelson, eight-room Ransom Street School and the three-room High School (if that counts as a name).

The four wooden school buildings were simply House No. 1, No. 2, No. 4 and No. 5. (It’s not clear what happened to No. 3).

The estimated value of the system’s entire physical plant was estimated at $126,000 in 1883 (equal to $2.7 million today).

Just over a year after The Chronicle asked its readers to suggest school names, the system’s largest building, the Central School, burned to the ground in a fire on Dec. 14, 1890.

Construction of a replacement began immediately, thanks to Charles H. Hackley’s offer to buy $75,000 in bonds that paid him 5 percent interest over 30 years.

Muskegon’s first school was a two-room affair established on Terrace Street in 1849.

In 1937, the system boasted 17 schools and over 10,000 students.

Muskegon Public Schools currently serves more than 4,750 students in nine buildings: Glenside, Lakeside, Marquette, Moon, Nelson and Oakview elementary schools, Muskegon Community Education, Muskegon Middle School and Muskegon High School.

This week 123 years ago…

The Chronicle’s call for names for the buildings in the city’s rapidly expanding public school system sparked a lively response from a wide spectrum of Muskegonites.

On Oct. 10, 1889 The Chronicle’s readers said:

NAMING THE SCHOOLS

By 1911, overcrowding led to construction of this four-room addition to McLaughlin School, shown here on a cold, rainy November day in 1951.MLive.com file photo

A few suggestions for the Board of Education

Editors Chronicle – It certainly was a very deserving compliment to Mr. McLaughlin that one of the schools should bear his name. He has had a hard fight over the question of the electric motor for the street railway and has come out successful and the city will soon be proud of her street railway system and here, by the way, let me suggest that if Mr. McLaughlin wishes to make himself still more popular he should make arrangements to carry the teachers to and from the schools at half fare.

The designation of one of the schools as the “Mann” school is certainly appropriate, it being a fitting compliment for several gentlemen of this city of that name. I do not, however, agree with the school board in applying the name of “Pierce” to another school, particularly since the firm of Mann & Pierce has been dissolved and Mr. Pierce is no longer engaged in business in this city. I would suggest that it be named “Moon,” particularly if it should be full.

Neither do I quite agree with the board in changing the name of the Apple Street school to the “Angell School,” for the reason that I do not think there are usually more angels in attendance at that school than are found in the other schools.

We like the idea of designating one of the schools as the “Nelson” School, as a compliment to Sheriff Nelson and there also seems to be a fitness in keeping the name of the sheriff in the remembrance of boys who disobey the rules of school with the suggestion to these boys that if they continue in such disobedience that they will become better acquainted with the sheriff at no very distant day.

The eighth ward, too, is not to be forgotten, one of the schools bearing the name of a gentleman who has long been a resident of that ward. It need not be said that we refer to Mr. Pillsbury.

There seems to be quite a diversity of opinion in regard to the designation of the school in the locality generally known as the “Newaygo Hill” or the “Trouble School.” If people will bear in mind that this school was designated the “Froebel School” as a compliment to a gentleman who made a great success at $30 a month in teaching children.

High School

Recently closed McLaughlin Elementary School, shown here in May 1962, was part of a system that in 1937 boasted 17 schools and more than 10,000 students. The system currently has nine buildings and more than 4,750 students.MLive.com file photo

Why name them all after men?

Editors Chronicle – In response to your call for names for schools, I will suggest a few. In the first place, why name them all after men? We have had, and have at present, women of culture and learning equal to man. Let us have just one school, if not more, named after or for some good woman – Francis Willard, for instance; Hanna More, of consecrated talents, many whose ballads we committed to memory from our school readers; Pocahontas, the Indian maiden; Elizabeth Browning, the songstress of liberty; Elizabeth Fry-Hays; Martha Washington; Florence Nightingale, the Angel of Mercy, etc., etc.

Maj. Davis is a revered and familiar name; Reynolds, in honor of the man who did so much good in Muskegon, and whose teachings should be given early to the youth of our land; Liberty School; America School; and as we have a Hackley Library, Hackley School is necessary. For Port Sherman, “Golden Rod.”

“And no more I’ll grumble.”

Mrs. P. Wintermute

A batch of suggestions

Editors Chronicle – I wish to suggest the name of Mayhew for the name of one of our city schools. Hon. Ira Mayhew was one of our early superintendents of public instruction.

If a lady’s name is to be used, why is not Swayze a good and worthy one?

I suggest Burdge as an appropriate name for the Port Sherman school. Mr. Burdge is a pioneer of Port Sherman and was for years a member of the school board there.

Bluffton citizen

Suggests a Holland name

Editors Chronicle – I beg to suggest the name of VanderMuelen for one of our public schools in honor of Rev. J. VanderMuelen, for many years school inspector and a man well known in the city and State.

Business Man, Western Ave.

Other opinions

“I think the easiest way is to give each school a number,” said H.D. Baker. “It saves confusion and is easiest of all around. If the board intends to christen the schools I would suggest the name Webster for one school.”

“Should prefer to have them named after the street upon which they are located,” said C.L. Dearborn, “for the reason that people generally would remember the names and locations easier.”